Bill Evans is an internationally known five-string banjo life force. As a performer, teacher, writer, scholar, and composer, he brings a deep knowledge, intense virtuosity, and contagious passion to all things banjo, with thousands of music fans and banjo students from all over the world in a career that spans over thirty-five years.

With The Banjo in America, Bill performs the music from his chart topping CDs and also much more: he takes the listener on a musical adventure, following the banjo from its West African roots to the New World, performing musical examples from the 1700’s to the present day on vintage instruments. From an 18th century African dance tune to the music of the Civil War, and from early 20th century ragtime to folk and bluegrass banjo styles to Bill’s own incredible original music, The Banjo in America illuminates as well as entertains, exposing audiences to over 250 years of musical traditions.

Bill is the author of Banjo for Dummies and Bluegrass Banjo for Dummies, two of the most popular banjo books in the world. He has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and has performed with the San Francisco Symphony. Bill’s CD In Good Company features over 26 musicians, including the Infamous Stringdusters, Tim O’Brien, and Joy Kills Sorrow performing Bill’s innovative compositions that blend jazz, classical, folk and world music influences.

House Concert Details

SLO House Concerts are by invitation and reservation only. Please click here to contact us to request an invitation and indicate how many seats you would like to reserve. We will then send you an email with directions and other helpful information.

7:00pm show: Doors open at 6:30pm. Concert starts at 7:00pm.Suggested donation: $20. ALL of the money goes to the performer.

with special guest Ashley Broder on mandolin

One Lane Bridge is a trio of seasoned musicians based in Santa Cruz, California. Grammy Award winning guitarist William Coulter, cellist Aria DiSalvio, and fiddler John Weed mesmerize and delight their audiences with performances of unique, artful arrangements of traditional, classical, and contemporary music. Fusing traditional music styles from Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Spain, and beyond with modern influences and classical refinement results in a sound that is simultaneously ancient and cutting edge — a rhythmically vibrant, melodically engaging chamber-folk music at home in the concert hall or on the dance floor. One Lane Bridge released their first CD in September 2014 and have entertained enthusiastic audiences at a variety of concerts and venues including KVMR Grass Valley Celtic Festival and the Red Barn Community Music Series. Joining One Lane Bridge in a special appearance will be mandolin virtuoso Ashley Broder, a member of the national touring contradance band The Synchopaths. Ashley is known for her elegant, understated playing style.

House Concert Details

SLO House Concerts are by invitation and reservation only. Please send an email to slohouseconcerts(at)gmail(.)com to request an invitation and indicate how many seats you would like to reserve and how you heard about this concert. We will then send you an email with directions and other helpful information.

7:00pm show: Doors open at 6:30pm. Concert starts at 7:00pm.Suggested donation: $20. ALL of the money goes to the performers.

Amber Cross is a singer and songwriter who delivers her stories with unforgettable power and emotion with a strong clear voice. She has been compared to Nanci Griffith, Iris DeMent and Hazel Dickens, all of whom have influenced her music. She has opened for such artists as Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave Stamey, and Mary Gauthier, as well as frequent guest performances with The Wronglers, Warren Hellman’s band, founder of San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Amber will be accompanied by long-time friend and Cajun/old-time fiddler Gary Arcemont, and James Moore on guitar. The two men play a variety of instruments to support Amber’s songs: fiddle, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, and upright bass, as well as offering vocal support and harmonies.

House Concert Details

SLO House Concerts are by invitation and reservation only. Please send an email requesting an invitation to slohouseconcerts(at)gmail(.)com and indicate how many seats you would like to reserve and how you heard about this concert. We will then send you an email with directions and other helpful information.

7:00pm show: Doors open at 6:30pm. Concert starts at 7:00pm.Suggested donation: $20. ALL of the money goes to the performers.

The New Album

In December 2015, Amber made her final trip to Austin, Texas and completed the recording of her third album, Savage on the Downhill, under the production of Juno Award winning songwriter and producer Ray Bonneville. The songs are original and supported by artists such as Gurf Morlix, Ray Bonneville, and Tim O’Brien. This concert will help to fund the production and release of the album.

The Flannels

Amber buys second hand flannel and wool shirts at thrift stores and garage sales and has each one embroidered with a phrase from one of her original songs. She has over 400 shirts in stock, in all shapes and sizes from infants to 3X, and will have them available at the house concert.